Have you checked your CO alarm recently? .......

[vanVhome]

Do you test your MH carbon monoxide detectors weekly? As part of my job I test CO alarms are working in homes, it's surprising how many customers don't check them at all. As the cooler weather starts in the UK, boilers are on more, windows are closed etc. Remember everything works fine until it doesn't, your alarm could safe your life!

Check also they are placed correctly and in date, I prefer the sealed units which when the batteries die the unit is replaced, there is no point putting batteries in a unit that expired years ago. Sealed units also benefit that the batteries don't end up in the TV remote control !

Keep safe everyone

 

[kevenh]

I’m check them & smoke alarm regularly with a reminder set. Every 3 months and occasional random checks.

 

[Basildog]

Do you test your MH carbon monoxide detectors weekly? As part of my job I test CO alarms are working in homes, it's surprising how many customers don't check them at all. As the cooler weather starts in the UK, boilers are on more, windows are closed etc. Remember everything works fine until it doesn't, your alarm could safe your life!

Check also they are placed correctly and in date, I prefer the sealed units which when the batteries die the unit is replaced, there is no point putting batteries in a unit that expired years ago. Sealed units also benefit that the batteries don't end up in the TV remote control !

Keep safe everyone

Placed correctly !
Do you mean like in this NCC approved van conversion

 

[TinaLes]

I fully agree that both smoke & CO detectors should be tested regularly, I would say that as an ex Fire Alarm Engineer, regularly testing Emergency lights for 3 hour duration, plus all extinguishers.
I am however a little disappointed with our Fire Angel sealed Smoke detector, it just over 5 years old, and its chirping which tells me it needs replacing, even though the internal battery is supposed to last 10 years.
Just priced up a replacement, circa £22 for a ST-622T replacement, but safety 1st as always.
PS: no of course I didnt keep the receipt, that probably got chucked with the packaging.
LES

 

[DavieA]

I check my house CO, smoke and heat alarms every 2 weeks. CO are stand alone. Smoke and heat are interlinked and are 10 year batteries.
My M/H CO and smoke alarm are checked prior to trips and change the batteries every year.

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[vanVhome]

Placed correctly !
Do you mean like in this NCC approved van conversion

Placed correctly !
Do you mean like in this NCC approved van conversion View attachment 677953

Wow ..... That may as well be in the draw!

 

[vanVhome]

I fully agree that both smoke & CO detectors should be tested regularly, I would say that as an ex Fire Alarm Engineer, regularly testing Emergency lights for 3 hour duration, plus all extinguishers.
I am however a little disappointed with our Fire Angel sealed Smoke detector, it just over 5 years old, and its chirping which tells me it needs replacing, even though the internal battery is supposed to last 10 years.
Just priced up a replacement, circa £22 for a ST-622T replacement, but safety 1st as always.
PS: no of course I didnt keep the receipt, that probably got chucked with the packaging.
LES

I wonder if the battery life of 10 years is for the home, sat outside in the cold van probably reduces it's battery life

 

[Basildog]

Wow ..... That may as well be in the draw!

I have raised it with both the manufacturers and the NCC
Would have been better talking to the dog

 

[L' Hobo]

Placed correctly !
Do you mean like in this NCC approved van conversion View attachment 677953

A friend of mine has just purchased a, new to him, 2019 M/H and it has a similar alarm positioning, but he will not believe me when I advise him it is incorrect!
It might even be the same conversion!

 

[Wildbill]

It's checked every time we use the van and the boat one every week.
I have two in the van and three in the boat one in wheel house one in front cabin and one I back cabin
Bill

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[Basildog]

A friend of mine has just purchased a, new to him, 2019 M/H and it has a similar alarm positioning, but he will not believe me when I advise him it is incorrect!

That’s the usual response, it’s some kind of weird herd instinct that comes into play ,
It’s normally the quote that “ The manufacturers wouldn’t put it there if it wasn’t right “
Bizarre

 

[L' Hobo]

I have, at home, the ones with the lights included in-case of power cuts caused by fire. I must get these fitted to my van also!

 

[Basildog]

I have, at home, the ones with the lights included in-case of power cuts caused by fire. I must get these fitted to my van also!

Just check that the manufacturers have approved them for caravans and Motorhomes.

 

[68c]

Some house smoke detectors provide battery powered emergency lighting which turns on when it loses the 240v supply. In your van when not on EHU there is no 240v so would be on all the time you are driving or parked off grid.

 

[L' Hobo]

Some house smoke detectors provide battery powered emergency lighting which turns on when it loses the 240v supply. In your van when not on EHU there is no 240v so would be on all the time you are driving or parked off grid.

Mine are not attached to the domestic 230/40v supply, they just have 2 batteries, surely, they would operate as they do in my home?

To be honest, cannot see the point of a smoke detector working off the mains unless it's to charge an internal, independent, battery?

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[Bustup15]

I think it would be more helpful to indicate the correct position for a CO alarm rather than just saying one isn't correct.
Also when you say you test the alarm, do you mean test the battery as I've not seen a method of properly testing a CO alarm to see if it operates correctly?

 

[Bustup15]

If you follow 'correct" positioning as below, where in a motorhome could you fit one?

As installing a CO alarm is the only available option to help detect and prevent the effects of carbon monoxide, it is highly important this is done correctly. Here are some best practice recommendations:

• Carbon Monoxide alarms should be fitted in every room that contains a fuel burning appliance
• They should be at least 300 mm from any wall (for ceiling mounted alarms)
• At least 150 mm from the ceiling, above the height of any door or window (for
• wall mounted alarms)
• Between 1 and 3 m (measured horizontally) from the potential source of CO.

The British Standard EN 50292 standard also recommends that an alarm is not fitted:

• In an enclosed space
• Where it can be obstructed
• Directly above a sink
• Next to a door, window, extractor fan, air vent or similar ventilation opening
• Where the temperature may drop below –5 ºC or exceed 40 ºC.

 

[Spriddler]

Wow ..... That may as well be in the draw!

You're right; it's certainly a lottery whether it'll work or not.

 

[Larrynwin]

Just tested mine and they were silent

 

[Gina M]

Actually, only last night when I went to light the wood burner, I found mine in the log basket with no batteries in it

Gina.

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[Speve]

If you follow 'correct" positioning as below, where in a motorhome could you fit one?

As installing a CO alarm is the only available option to help detect and prevent the effects of carbon monoxide, it is highly important this is done correctly. Here are some best practice recommendations:

• Carbon Monoxide alarms should be fitted in every room that contains a fuel burning appliance
• They should be at least 300 mm from any wall (for ceiling mounted alarms)
• At least 150 mm from the ceiling, above the height of any door or window (for
• wall mounted alarms)
• Between 1 and 3 m (measured horizontally) from the potential source of CO.

The British Standard EN 50292 standard also recommends that an alarm is not fitted:

• In an enclosed space
• Where it can be obstructed
• Directly above a sink
• Next to a door, window, extractor fan, air vent or similar ventilation opening
• Where the temperature may drop below –5 ºC or exceed 40 ºC.

I would suggest there is probably no correct place in van conversion and not much better in a C or A class?
However any thing is better than nothing at all?

 

[Tonks]

I would suggest there is probably no correct place in van conversion and not much better in a C or A class?
However any thing is better than nothing at all?

My carbon monoxide detector is fixed to the shelf just along from my hob. It went off one evening about a year ago and scared me half to death, besides nearly deafening me. I certainly wouldn't have slept through it. (It was a cold night and I'd been cooking with what turned out to be insufficient ventilation.) Although it's probably not the ideal location, I leave it there because I know it's worked before while sited in that spot. Though I do need to test it so will do that. The smoke detector has an indicator light which was still on when I last camped a week ago. But I'll check that too. Better safe...

 

[lorger]

I fully agree that both smoke & CO detectors should be tested regularly, I would say that as an ex Fire Alarm Engineer, regularly testing Emergency lights for 3 hour duration, plus all extinguishers.
I am however a little disappointed with our Fire Angel sealed Smoke detector, it just over 5 years old, and its chirping which tells me it needs replacing, even though the internal battery is supposed to last 10 years.
Just priced up a replacement, circa £22 for a ST-622T replacement, but safety 1st as always.
PS: no of course I didnt keep the receipt, that probably got chucked with the packaging.
LES

Our van is 2 years old and the same detector started beeping last week due to flat battery.

 

[Speve]

Our van is 2 years old and the same detector started beeping last week due to flat battery.

The problem is that you don’t know how long they have been in the stores awaiting a buyer and how long the batteries were with the manufacturer before being fitted into the detector?

 

[kevenh]

The problem is that you don’t know how long they have been in the stores awaiting a buyer and how long the batteries were with the manufacturer before being fitted into the detector?

I think there’s a date label or stamp on the detector - manufactured or good until date or both.
And, with gadgets generally, batteries are often not in circuit until a pullout isolating strip is removed to allow the gadget to be powered up.
Edit: typo

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[Speve]

I think there’s a date label or stamp on the detector - manufacturer or good until date or both.
And, with gadgets generally, batteries are often not in circuit until a pullout isolating strip is removed to allow the gadget to be powered up.

I understand what you are saying about the battery being out of circuit however they may have been in storage for a long period before that and therefore towards the end of their dates for use

 

[DavieA]

I understand what you are saying about the battery being out of circuit however they may have been in storage for a long period before that and therefore towards the end of their dates for use

Combined with them being those cheap unknown name ones which lose their charge fairly quickly.

 

[DavieA]

My carbon monoxide detector is fixed to the shelf just along from my hob. It went off one evening about a year ago and scared me half to death, besides nearly deafening me. I certainly wouldn't have slept through it. (It was a cold night and I'd been cooking with what turned out to be insufficient ventilation.) Although it's probably not the ideal location, I leave it there because I know it's worked before while sited in that spot. Though I do need to test it so will do that. The smoke detector has an indicator light which was still on when I last camped a week ago. But I'll check that too. Better safe...

Please don’t underestimate the importance of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

One winter a few years back, my mate’s uncle and aunt lost their life to carbon monoxide poisoning. They had draft proofed their living room which had a gas fire. Gas fire was on and both fell asleep due to lack of oxygen

 

[Niall B]

I had my hab check done by a different place this year, previous ones had been with the original dealer who have now stopped trading. Anyway, I was surprised to learn that my CO alarm wasn't compliant, and had never been, because it didn't have an 'installed on' date and that it would be an offence to just make one up. I took the opportunity to buy a fresh one.

 

[L' Hobo]

The problem is that you don’t know how long they have been in the stores awaiting a buyer and how long the batteries were with the manufacturer before being fitted into the detector?

So you spend a few pounds and change the battery for a new one, isn't your life, and others, worth it?

You also say there is no correct place in a PVC? My Murvi has the CO2 detector, above the bed and under the fixed overhead cupboards opposite the sliding door and the Smoke alarm on the wall near the TV at the end of the kitchen near the extinguisher and Fire Blanket.

As an 1980's ex-TGWU Health & Safety Officer, I'm happy with both (Consultation are available at a reasonable cost!)

PS. My CO2 alarm has a white flashing LED and my Smoke alarm has red. (to test, just burn the toast occasionally.)

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